THE ANNALS MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, [THIED SERIES.] No. 70. OCTOBER 1863. XXIV. — On the Presence of Chlorophyll-cells and Starch-granules as Normal Parts of the Organism, and on the Reproductive Process, in Difflugia pyriforrais^ Perty ; also on a Freshwater Species o/Echinocystidia. By H. J. Carter, F.R.S. &c. For some time past I have been inclining to the view that, although the Bhizopoda must be placed on the animal side of organized beings, still they have very strong alliances with the vegetable kingdom ; and this opinion has been confirmed by what I have lately observed in Difflugia pyriformis, Perty (mihi), wherein the body, apparently after conjugation similar to that of the contents of the cells of Spirogyra, contracts itself into an elliptical form, densely charged with chlorophyll-cells and stai'eh-granules. I cannot now state confidently that the contents of both tests, after amalgamation, finally become fixed in one only, as in Spirogyra; nor, on the contrary, am I prepared to state that they become divided between the two individuals, for rea-sons which will be mentioned hereafter ; but this much may be stated — that the number of chlorophyll-cells and starch-granules greatly increases in the body of this Difft,ugia just previously to subsequent changes, in which they seem to disappear altogether (at all events, the former) and are replaced by a mass of colour-less granuliferous cells which may be inferred to be the elements of a new generation. Before, however, proceeding to that which I have to ofifer on the subject, it is desirable to describe the species which is about to come under our consideration; and this may stand as fol-lows : — Difflugia pyriformis, Perty. Test ovate-elongate, closed and rounded posteriorly, open and truncate, with even or undulating aperture, anteriorly ; composed of hyaline gi-ains of quartz-sand, held together by a glutinous Ann. Ss Mag, N, Hist, Ser.3. Fb/.xii. 17
XXIV.—On the presence of chlorophyll-cells and starch-granules as normal parts of the organism, and on the reproductive process, in Difflugia pyriformis, Perty; also on a freshwater species of Echinocystidia
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